Belmondo wrote:Did Rodgers and Hammerstein and their huge talent have the misfortune of arriving on the scene too early?
They were at the right time. It's what's happened recently that's the issue.
I'm not sure whether it has to do with certain associations of a musical's base audience, certain associations about the current state of Broadway, or just certain issues with the form itself that most writers or composers are unable to work-out on their own, but the musical has become a joke. Though not to me, I'm a huge defender of it (the form, not the crappy musicals that have been written recently). Still, if either Rodgers or Hammerstein or Sondheim, or a few others were twenty years old today, they'd probably want to pursue more respectable modes of storytelling.
As for the R & H movies, Carousel is a perfect example of a shitty movie made back in the day. The songs are never fully integrated into the show and the sensitive issue of wife beating is phoned in. It's a shame too, because it's easily their best show. But it should never be treated as a "grand" show like King & I or Oklahoma -- the themes aren't broad enough. You know, I'd actually argue that the script/lyrics/music to Carousel were ahead of its time.
If anyone doubts it, you should go to the library and check out the script and score to the show. Take an extra special look at "What's the use of wond'rin'," "Soliloquy," and "If I loved you." It kills me when these songs get simplified by hack directors and shallow singers.
